The Brussels Beer Challenge Maps Beer’s Evolution Around The World

Described as “the United Nations of Fine Beers” the Brussels Beer Challenge is an international competition held in different Belgian beer capitals annually. And its growth speaks to evolution of serious beer around the globe.

The city of Mechelen in the Flanders region of Belgium will be hosting the 2018 Brussels Beer Challenge this week…

During this year’s three day competition (Nov 2^nd-4^th) 88 international judges will evaluate 1,500 beers according to their origin and style and award  gold, silver and bronze medals to the best in each category.

And just as the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) competitions highlight brewing trends and the emergence of prominent brewing players in the US, entrants to the Brussels Beer Challenge serve as a  bellwether of beer’s market development and emergence around the world.

Since it first launched seven years ago, the Brussels Beer Challenge has grown to become one of the world’s most important and prestigious competitions. When it began in 2012 it was populated primarily by breweries from Belgium and traditional countries such as Germany, the Czech Republic, and the UK.

And although Belgian brewers are still comprehensively represented, emerging players from as far as China are now part of the international beer competition.

In recent years, powerful new players from the Netherlands, Italy and Switzerland are flexing brewing muscle that demands attention.

And even France, with its long-standing tradition of winegrowing, now boasts more than 1,200 breweries currently online and their impact is without a doubt being felt at the 2018 Brussels Beer Challenge.

In addition to pointing consumers to some of the world’s best beers and most exciting breweries, the Brussels Beer Challenge offers a snapshot of international brewing trends that bears watching…

And here are some interesting factiods and key takeaways from this year’s participation…

• Brazil, Germany and China posted the strongest increases and ranked among the top 10 countries taking part in the competition
• Australia sees record-breaking entry numbers
• Over 1,500 beers have been entered in the 7th event, an increase of 10%.
• 48 producer countries are taking part in the competition
• 88 professional international judges are travelling from 25 countries
• Nearly 10,000 glasses of beer will be served and judged over 3 days
• Belgium leads the way with 296 entries from 80 breweries
• Participation by American breweries is consistent year-on-year, but no longer in growth mode
• France entered nearly 150 beers in the competition
• Italy has established itself as a significant market within Europe